Time-controlled mechanism



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R. H. BERKSTRESSER.

TIM]; CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, I918- Patented Apr. 13, 192' R. H. BERKSTRESSER. TlMECONT-ROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9,1918.

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ROBERT H. BERKSTRESSER, 0F YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIME-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed January 9, 1918. Serial No. 211,005.

To all to hem it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT H. BERKSTRES- sun, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Gontrolled Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to timecontrolled mechanism for throwing off electric switches, effecting the movement of furnace dampers, and accomplishing other purposes to which it is applicable at predetermined times.

The general object of the invention is the provision of a time controlled mechanism. of the character set forth, constructed in such manner that it is simple and inexpensive, is reliable in action, is easily set and without liability of premature casual operation, and is-well adapted to withstand the rough usage and exposure to which such mechanism is ordinarily subjected particularly when located in cellars where dust and dirt as well as dampness are to be found.

lVith the foregoing in mind, the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claim when the same are considered in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel time-controlled mechanism as the same appears when set to operate at a predetermined time.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding view with the several working parts in the positions they assume after an operation of the mecha-' nism.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the mechanism as set.

Fig. 4: is a horizontal section, taken in the plane indicated by the line l4.- of Fig. 3, looking downwardly.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing the set engagement between the arm on the rock shaft that carries the swinging wing, and the lever which when properly engaged prevents movement of the swinging wing under the action of the retractile spring connected thereto.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views of the drawings.

Among other elements my novel time-controlled mechanism comprises a support which may be of the type illustrated or of any other construction compatible with the purpose of my invention.

11 a horizontal bracket 2 carried by said support is arranged and suitably secured an alarm or other clock 3 adapted to be set so that at predetermined time a movable element, a bell clapper at for instance, will be actuated. The clock 8 per 86 is not of my invention, and I would therefore have it understood that any time device capable of being set to actuate a movable element such as 1 at a predetermined time may be employed without affecting my invention.

Opposed to and adapted to be moved by the movable time-controlled element 4 is one arm of a suitably supported bell crank 5, the other arm of which is connected through a link rod 6 with one arm of what I will hereinafter denominate a trigger lever 7; The said trigger lever 7 is pivoted at 8 to a bracket 9 on one of a pair of spaced standards 10 and 11 that are fixed to and project from the face of the support first mentioned. It will be noticed here that the other or outer arm of the said trigger lever 7 is somewhat beveled for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

Journaled in the standards 10 and 11 is a rock shaft 12, and fixed to and projecting from said rock shaft 12 is an arm 13, having at its free end a bib 1 1 011 which is a projection 15, designed and adapted to engage with the beveled end of the trigger lever 7, after the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and this with a view to precluding casual release of the arm 13 from the trigger lever 7 while permitting free release when the predetermined time arrives, which is a desideratum in time-controlled mechanisms.

Also fixed to the rock shaft 12 and arranged between the standards 10 and 11 is the wing 16 of my improvement. This wing 16 has a tail 17, disposed at the opposite side of the rock shaft, with reference to the wing, as illustrated. The wing also has one or more apertures disposed adjacent to its free end; the said apertures being numbered 19, and being designed for the convenient attachment of connecting devices 20, adapted to effect connection between the wing and the electric or other switches, the dampers or other devices to be moved when the wing 16 is powerfully swung on its axis by its complementary spring 21.

The spring 21 is of the retractile type as illustrated, in the preferred embodiment of my invention, and is connected at one of its,

ends to the tail 17 of the wing 16, and at its opposite end, by preference, to a tension regulating device 22, preferably in the'form of a slotted bar, connected by screws 23 that extend through-its slots 24 to the support first mentioned, so that the tension -of -the spring 21 may be readily regulated by loosening the screws,-adjusting the bar lengthwise, and then re-tightening the screws.

The practical and reliable character of my noveltime-controlled mechanism will be fully. appreciated from the foregoing.

In :operation, the wing 161c0upled to-one ormore connecting devices 20 is swung with the rock shaft .12 vfrom the position shown in}Fi g. -2to that .shownin. Fig. l so'as to place the-notched portion or'the projection on the .bibof the rock-shaft arm over and in engagement with the beveled end of the trigger lever 7,.Fig. l. The stated swinging of the lever r 16 places the retractile spring under tensionand from this it follows that on the release of the rock-shaft arm from the trigger lever the spring will powerfully swing the wing in the opposite direction with the result that the wing will. strongly .pull on the connecting device or devices attached to it. .The stated release of the rockshaft arm from the trigger lever isaccomplished at a predetermined time by the bell crank being moved by theelement 4: of the clock or time device.

At 25 on the support first mentioned is a buffer of rubber or other suitable material, arranged to receive the impact of the wing when the latter is powerfully moved by the contraction v of its complementary spring this with a view to preventing the operation of the mechanism from injuring any of the parts comprised therein. I j

Particular attention is called to the fact that the spring21 is arranged with respect to the wing, that .it will oppose the movement of the wing, in either direction, when thrown to the most .forward position. The spring therefor opposes the oscillatory movements of the wing and causes the same to quickly come to rest and will frequently stop its movement before it contacts with the member 25.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

The combination with a support, of supporting brackets secured thereto in spaced relation and arranged at substantially a rightangle with 'relation thereto, .a rock shaft connected with the ends of the brackets andr-spacedfrom the. support :and arranged substantially parallel therewith, an. operating member-carried by the rock shaftanjd .havingshort and long end portions projecting upon opposite sidesof the rock shaft, the short end portion being adapted to swing between the rock shaft and the support, andthe long end portion being arranged to swing entirely upon the outer side of the rock shaft, pull element or elements secured to the long end portion, a retractile coil spring secured to the short end, ,portion and adapted to project between the. rock shaft and the support when-i theopcrating memberis in the cocked position, a longitudinallyadjustable element carried by the support. and connected with the free end of thespring for regulating its tension, with the spring disposed substantially parallel with the adjustable element when the operating member is cooked, .a crank rigidly secured to the rock. shaft and extending in the direction vof'the short end portion and adapted to. swing between the rock shaft and the support, a trigger lever connected with the support and adapted to engage with the free end of the crank and disposed at substantially .a right angle thereto when theoperating member is cooked, and timecontrolled means to move the trigger lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT H. BERKSTRESSER.

Witnesses: i

R. E. GooDLINe,

MARTHA J. ROFFENSBERGER. 

